Romney to Obama: Stop apologizing

posted at 6:32 pm on June 3, 2009 by Allahpundit

Eh. American pride is smart retail politics, especially vis-a-vis Islam — according to CNN’s latest poll, the Muslim world is viewed less favorably in the U.S. now than it was in 2002 — but even so, this is a missed opportunity. Rather than Hannitized boilerplate about America being a force for good, Mitt should have explained why, given the irreconcilable differences in the Middle East and the entrenched jihadist elements that benefit from conflict, an apology won’t accomplish much of anything except flattering the left’s dogma about “root causes.” Instead he resorts to an argument about how self-abasement projects weakness, which may be true; but it’s also true that some kids who are flirting with radicalism might think twice after hearing it. How to quantify which of the two is likelier? It reminds me of the argument over whether to use drones in Pakistan, which the left is forever telling us only breeds more terrorists (or rather, they used to tell us that when Bush was giving the orders). That may be true too — but what if the drone strikes are killing more jihadis than they’re creating? Debates about unknowable numbers aren’t terribly interesting.

If he does apologize, doubtless it’ll be in the form of a “both sides are at fault” wheeze. I’m not expecting much, and neither are Muslims:

Beirut-based analyst Paul Salem, who heads the Carnegie Middle East Centre, said he expected Arabs to be disappointed by Obama’s speech.

“What they want him to say is more than what he’s going to say,” he said.

“They want him to say that he’s going to come down hard on the Israelis, that he’s going to confront the settlement policy and that he’s going to push the Israelis to withdraw from the West Bank.

“Of course that is what every Arab would like to hear.”

Yes, truly, the key to a new golden age of Israeli/Hamas/Hezbollah/Iran/Wahhabist relations is withdrawal from the West Bank. Just like disengagement from Gaza was a few years ago. Go for the gold, Barry. Exit question from Dick Morris: Why isn’t The One stopping in Israel during his trip?

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Instead he resorts to an argument about how self-abasement projects weakness, which may be true; but it’s also true that some kids who are flirting with radicalism might think twice after hearing it.

How do you explain the radicals that have been raised in England, worked (with kids!), had government support, had a bunch of people willing to apologize and hate America with them, and yet were easy recruits to do things like bomb train stations and plan mid-Atlantic aircraft explosions?

I am sure if Obama just travels around enough everyone will stop hating us and the world will have peace. What an idiot – only strength protects. The Arabs will hate us until we are subjugated to Islam everyone single one of us. We need to get of our oil dependency and tell them to go to hell instead of kissing their butts.

Instead he resorts to an argument about how self-abasement projects weakness, which may be true; but it’s also true that some kids who are flirting with radicalism might think twice after hearing it.

Yes. It will help push them over the edge.

You don’t really seem to understand tribalism and arab culture too well. They are not motivated to fight because of perceived wrongs. It is true that they are hyper-sensitive and blame every ill they have on anyone but themselves, but that is not what drives them to violence. What drives them to violence is the taste of blood, the idea that they might win.

Instead he resorts to an argument about how self-abasement projects weakness, which may be true; but it’s also true that some kids who are flirting with radicalism might think twice after hearing it.

How do you explain the radicals that have been raised in England, worked (with kids!), had government support, had a bunch of people willing to apologize and hate America with them, and yet were easy recruits to do things like bomb train stations and plan mid-Atlantic aircraft explosions?

MayBee on June 3, 2009 at 6:45 PM

And let’s not forget our Muslim convert who shot the Marine recruiters in Arkansas. Having an apologetic president who has “experienced Islam” on three continents didn’t cause him to think twice.

You don’t really seem to understand tribalism and arab culture too well. They are not motivated to fight because of perceived wrongs. It is true that they are hyper-sensitive and blame every ill they have on anyone but themselves, but that is not what drives them to violence. What drives them to violence is the taste of blood, the idea that they might win.

Islam is the formalization of desert arab culture, with an added, nasty mythology. Islam is a huge problem, but arab culture is the root, and when dealing with arabs their own culture is the larger problem. With other muslims, it is the islam, itself, that tends to represent the larger problem. That’s how I view it.

His 31% Approval ratings are too low here to visit Israel.. It would tarnish the meticolous media image they have built him, better to stick with ‘carefully managed’ Saudi supervised photostops. Maybe we’ll get some ‘gorgeous barefoot mosque shots’ for the new artsy fartsy newsweak..

Mitt… palin… cheney… so entertaining when they struggle for relevance.

benny shakar on June 3, 2009 at 6:54 PM

You disparage three people who have actually ran administrations and in Mitt’s case a financial genius, and praise a Marxist scum bag who has never accomplished a single comparable thing in his entire life. And ChimpyO is getting his chance to run the country and he is failing miserably.

It’s true you liberals are psychologically damaged. Up is down, down is up, and the only reality that makes you happy is one that is in total chaos.

After his preliminary apologizing ,which must be done in a prone prostrated position, President Hussein must denounce the crusades and all disbeliever attacks on the Prophet, Peace be upon Him. He must also endorse all the righteous Islamic courts, including their application of divine Sharia blasphemy laws. He must also throw the full support of the country he rules behind the U.N. resolution passed in December prohibiting defamation of Islam including making such defamation a crime under international law and turn over to us any such criminals that are in his country. These are are demands for now. We will have more later.

Allah, you must be losing it. For one thing, Obama campaigned on promise to improve our image around the world. Yet his apology tour has served only to remind those nations why they don’t like us. His focus on our mistakes, his mischaracterization of our motives will never endear a skeptical foreigner.

Rather he should be a strong defender of freedom and liberty and remind the world of the good we have done. Bring their focus to positive images of the USA. There are many more impactful examples of the sacrifice and exemplary actions of our military. He should remind Europe that they benefitted from the very blood of our men and women in uniform.

We have little to be ashamed of and much to be proud of. How can we be a beacon of hope to people around the world who live under tyrants and despots if we don’t let our freedom ring from every mountain top?

Obama will never improve our image around the world, never keep his campaign promise, if he wastes these opportunities and denigrates his own country. He should be ashamed of himself. Romney would have been a better president than that.

Rather than Hannitized boilerplate about America being a force for good, Mitt should have explained why, given the irreconcilable differences in the Middle East and the entrenched jihadist elements that benefit from conflict, an apology won’t accomplish much of anything except flattering the left’s dogma about “root causes.”

Islamists launch an unprovoked attack upon the United States which responds by giving blood and treasure to liberate 60 million Muslims. Anyone who needs an explanation as to why an American apology is not only unnecessary but an outrage, is a moron.

It is for me, I can begin to say how sick I am of hearing how horrible we are. By our own citizens. More could be done to turn this country around by encouragement then this whiny, let the government fix it, garbage we are spoon fed 24/7.

Mitt should have explained why, given the irreconcilable differences in the Middle East and the entrenched jihadist elements that benefit from conflict, an apology won’t accomplish much of anything except flattering the left’s dogma about “root causes.”

Why would Mitt say there are “irreconcilable differences”? What does that accomplish in either the short term or long term?

What is it about pro-homosexual, pro-feminist secularists like BHO that makes them want to get lovey-dovey with homosexual killers & wife enslaving theocratic nuts like AkMyDumbJihad?

jgapinoy on June 3, 2009 at 10:23 PM

But you and I know the answer…
The Left doesn’t let facts get in the way of a good meme they want to promote, whichever one it is for the day. Just like the CauseEds in PCU. Just like it didn’t matter much to The Left either that Saddam was responsible for orders of magnitude more dead in his attacks on his people, but somehow Bush is a criminal… I could go on for hours…

Romney/Liz Chenney – Wow what a combination!
I bet Mitt could get knowledgeable, intelligent, honest people to serve in the government for $1.00 a year, just as he did for the Olympics. If not, I would settle or knowledgeable, intelligent and honest.
You who worried so much about Mitt’s religion made sure we put a mulim in the office. Congratulations!

Mitt, just like Clarence Thomas, is a genuine American and a man American children should emulate. These type of people still vote for conservative values but are becoming increasingly rare in public positions. I believe thats happening because of the reticense of good men and women to step forward and put their reputations and families in a position where they can be attacked mercilessly by the democrats and left, and left hanging in the wind by the professional politicians now in control of the republican party. We complained in the last campaign cycle that the media and left picked our candidates. Soon it won’t matter because the tactics of the left and media will completely influence the kind of people willing to run for office. We will have nothing but inferior choices. That kind of person will have no ethics or principles, have no concern for the American people. We are very close to that point now and unless the American people wake up in the next elections and reward those few courageous people of principle and honor who are still willing to put themselves on the line for us then we will effectively live in a one party nation within the next few years.

After what Romney’s been through the last time, and how his family and his religion were raked over the coals, I don’t know how he would want to do it again. Funny how we would rather have a muslim running our country than a M…….. It isn’t because he wants the money. It isn’t because he wants the fame. I think it’s because he has something to give of himself to help the country that he loves and so does his family. Unlike our current president whose wife was never proud of her country, he and his family are proud of it.
God bless him if he wants to go through it again.
Romney/Liz Cheney.